I often share some thoughts with you on climate change, the current state of this late-stage capitalist culture, grief, and other things that feel urgent in these strange times. Feel free to check out past essays at our UPDATES FROM THE UNDERSTORY.
Today, I want to talk about our young people, this climate generation. I’m referring to the folks roughly 25 years old down to the newest babies. I KNOW you are worried about their future, so am I, and for good reason. I’m here to ask you to let your worry be overpowered by real awe and admiration for these little ones! They don’t need your worry but they may need your help. I’ve been calling them The Super Generation. Let me explain…
If you’ve ever needed a reminder of just how magical our world is, the Monarch Butterfly is a great place to start. This tiny insect traverses our southern border annually with no regard for our arbitrary geopolitical boundaries. They follow the same path down to Mexico for the winter and later back through the continental United States. Here in the North East, there are several generations in a season and then there is a Super Generation. These are the ones, with no personal history, who make the migrational leap. Their tiny bodies travel over 2,500 miles on a path only their ancestors have known. “It’s their great, great, great, great-grandchildren who are embedded with the ancestral instinct to find the very same forests in Mexico” [Read more on this amazing life story and so many lessons from our Monarch family in a beautiful essay written by Kate Seldon back in 2018. It is worth the read!]
But today we’re talking about our HUMAN super generation…
I believe our current climate generation is OUR Super Generation, the ones that will make the jump to a new world. They’ll need the knowledge embedded in THEM from their great, great, great, grandmothers to find the way... and they’re going to make the leap. (So please don’t lecture them about your electoral politics - I’m looking at you baby boomers. Or judging them for their life choices. Imagine coming of age in this era. Tick-tock AND climate catastrophe!) They’re not playing by our rules because their world is coming with a whole new set. The good news is there is still time, right now! We can help them prepare for this unseen and unknowable journey. Our role can be to support them while we still have the time and resources.
Let’s show up with excitement and enthusiasm. Remind them of the magic and wonder of our amazing planet. Help them to really know they are HOME here on this Earth. And build their skills for the future.
Are you ready?
We’re helping to preparing them for the unknown so let’s build their skills wherever possible. Huge props out to the parents, aunties & uncles, grandparents and educators already working hard on this. You all are bringing wonder, joy and magnificent skills and I see you! Raising dragon slayers in a time of dragons.
For me there are hard skills and soft skills. This lists is just a start so please send your addtions:
Every day I’m inspired by this generation. Here are just a few individuals I deeply admire by name: Jaysi, Abby, Dove, Kala, Logan, Anjali, Lael, Jacks, Molly, Tessa, Sabastian, Leighton, Lilly, Niko, SK, Samara, Bear, Sayuri… and the list goes on! You guys are my heroes.